Long Beach moves ahead on creating economic development officer position

LONG BEACH - A City Council action made Tuesday could create a new position that would shepherd economic development and serve as an intermediary between businesses and government.

Council members voted unanimously to approve a request advanced by Vice Mayor Robert Garcia that directs City Manager Pat West to report back within 90 days on the feasibility of creating the position, a business and economic development officer.

The proposed addition to city staff would revive many of the functions of the Economic Development Bureau. It was dismantled two years ago and the duties were spread among the City Manager's and Mayor's offices.

Garcia noted that other similarly sized cities, such as Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans and Cincinnati, each have their own economic development arm, and that Long Beach would do well to widen its business footprint and attract high-tech and other jobs.

"I think this is another opportunity to move that forward," Garcia said.

The cost of the job could be offset by unspecified adjustments to other city positions that West would make, according to the legislation. West said it would be possible to make the proposal "revenue neutral."

In giving his support to the legislation, Councilman Steven Neal asked that the economic development officer work to recruit businesses to all parts of the city, including less affluent areas.